The Aislin Chronicles

Part XXXI

A/n: Hey! Thirty-one parts! That just so happens to be my lucky number. Enjoy!

9-6-03

11:10 AM

Last night was soooo fun! We went to the high school's football game. I didn't even– this feels really stupid –know to think that there was high school football. I mean last year, yeah, I watched it on TV all the time with Dad and Will and Weiss but for some reason it didn't cross my mind that I'd know people who played. Okay, so I don't actually know any football players, but I will next year once I'm in high school, right?

Whoa. High school. Next year? Crazy thought.

Anyway, it was so much fun actually being at the game, though I can hardly say that I watched a lot of it. I know, I'm a horrible, horrible fan. But there were just so many great people from my school to talk to that I lost track of the sport. Oh sure, you hear a bunch of screaming and everyone turns around to look and see what's going on, and I did catch some good plays. We won, by the way, 21 to 7. My school rocks.

So yesterday Jess knocked on our door just as we finished cleaning up (ahh, the beauty of a dishwasher as opposed to manual labor, I'll marry whoever invented it) and announced where we were going, to which I was most, most delighted. Her mom picked me up in their big van with all us teenagers in the back. I somewhat miss the old days of Jess's older sister and her boyfriend picking is up, but since they're at college and Jess's next sister doesn't have her license yet I guess Mrs. Silko will do.

Once we were in the stadium (I realized I'd never been to the high school before even though it's a block away from where I go now) all us kids split up to our proper sections. Apparently there's a section only for high school students. One of Jess's sisters (I forget which) told us that sometime parents will sit there and whoever is sitting behind them will start talking really loudly about how this was the student section and how they hate when adults sit there anyway just so they'll move. Anyway, there's a section of bleachers that has been claimed by middle schoolers over the years. It's really small compared to the student section, but the sixth graders don't really care enough to come, and most of the sevies aren't cool enough. So it's mostly eighth graders, which is completely awesome.

But you know what else is awesome? When Jess suddenly disappears, probably with Adam, and right there in front of you is Ian Schmidt. Yes, the one, the only, Mister Ian Schmidt. We sat together and talked for awhile, I pretended to really watch the game when secretly I was more excited that Ian was holding my hand and our shoulders and knees were like, touching.

Okay, probably not so secret, but, who really cares?

We got thirsty somewhere in the second quarter and went to get something to drink, which is where we met up with Jess, Krissy, Adam, Kathleen, Chris, Fini (yes I will name them ALL), Dee, Chasen, this kid Justin who is in my team, and two or three others I didn't know. Three, I think. Two girls, one boy.

Not important.

Anyway!

We stood in a huge circle by the concessions stand talking and drinking our sodas, and soon it was halftime and people were like swarming in our direction, so we kind of broke off into two different circles and made our ways back to our little section. Unfortunately, somewhere in the swarmation of the concession stand I lost Ian in the separation of the eighth grade circle. It's okay, I saw him later, don't worry. And I had a good replacement circle (Kathleen, Fini, Dee, Chasen, that Justin kid) so things were fun.

We watched the rest of the game (sort of) but it ended all too quickly. I was making my way through the masses with Jess and Krissy when I saw Ian again. We waited together in the parking lot for our rides. He was making fun of me because I wore shorts and was cold. But it was warm earlier!

Wait! He was wearing shorts too! Not fair!

Oh well. I kind of like it when he teases me. Hehe.

Then when I got home I found Mom and Dad lounging in the living room together watching a movie. Well, it was more Mom watching the movie, seeing as Dad fell asleep, but that didn't seem to bother anyone.

"Aw, let him sleep," she smiled, rubbing his five o'clock shadow, "he's been working hard lately. So, how was the football game?"

I told her about it. And then we talked about Ian, and then about school, and then about Syd-n-Vaughn junior, and then about, oh, I can't remember. I was about ready to fall asleep myself when we finished. She had decided not to wake Dad up because, "he looks too gosh darn cute!" so we covered him with a blanket, she kissed his forehead, and we turned off all the lights and went to bed.

And now, they're off at work and I'm here home alone. Thinking about the Core Democratic Values. Why? Because that's my assignment. Just to think about them.

11:41 AM

Well, I think I've done enough thinking. Adios.

11:54 AM

Well great. Dad just stopped by because Sydney forgot something and he was getting it for her (what a sweet hubby). Anyway, he passed along a tidbit of information for me, and guess who shall be joining us for dinner? The one, the only, Jack Bristow. This ought to be… fun. Oh, I admit, I sort of missed the ol' guy. It's been awhile. It will be weird to be eating dinner with Jack and not have one of Jack's spectacularly delicious sauces, but oh well. Daddy's a good cook too.

I suppose I shall return with some interesting story or too.

8:12 PM

God damn it. I just may be the biggest idiot ever. I'm just… stupid! Normal people point at me and laugh. Or in my family's case, just give me odd looks every now and then. I don't even want to talk about it. It was soooo humiliating, and painful, and oh my gosh I'm the biggest idiot.

I'm not ready to share. I, gosh, I'll probably say later though because who am I kidding? I can't keep embarrassing secrets out of here for long. This was just so… Dumb? Sorry. I'm not ready to admit defeat to my stupidity.

9-7-03

3:33 PM

I burnt myself yesterday. That's what I did, I burnt myself. And no, I didn't do it trying to light a match, and no, I didn't do it playing with the flame of the candle, because I do tend to play with those, they are somewhat fun, and no, I did not do it by accidentally setting my hand on the stove. I learned not to do that after I was like three years old. Bad memory. Anyway, I burnt myself on a piece of broccoli. Yes, I said broccoli.

Please, don't laugh yet, you don't know the half of it.

And it's really not funny, so you shouldn't be laughing at all.

Journal.

When did I become such a weirdo who talks to inanimate objects? Oh I suppose I was always weird like that but. Ugh. I shouldn't be explaining things to paper bound in leather.

Right, so broccoli. I was really hungry when dinner came around, I think because I sort of skipped lunch and just had a nice extended breakfast. You know, breakfast. Second breakfast. Elevensies. Afternoon Tea. Good times, good times. Made me real hungry around dinner time, because of course, they don't all get off work until pretty late, and Dad wanted to make a nice dinner, so it took extra long. My point is I was hungry.

So I sat down and saw those little broccolis and they made my mouth water and I just wanted to eat one so bad, so I grabbed one, and into my mouth it went… Needless to say, it was extremely hot. And now, any other person in my situation would be like, "HOT! HOT!" andspit it out, or take a drink of water or something to soften the blow.

The Aislin method? Swallow.

Oh dear God, how it burned.

I burnt my throat.

No, I suppose I burnt my esophagus. My esophagus. Who burns their bloody esophagus? Me, apparently.

Please, I can hear you laughing at me, you stupid journal. And I don't appreciate it. So stop.

So, wow, it hurt really bad. Really, really bad. At that point I realized I didn't have any water, so I practically ran into the kitchen to get me some, with lots of little ice chips to swallow and cool my burnt frickin esophagus. But all through dinner, oh man, any time I swallowed food it killed me it hurt so bad. It took nearly all I had to not cry it hurt so much. My eyes were watering I know, and Jack would kind of glance at me every now and then, and, gosh, I must have looked so strange! But really, how stupid can you be? When something's hot whose first instinct is to swallow?

This morning I really didn't notice it at breakfast. The cereal didn't do much. But by lunchtime… Scorching pain. Near tears with every swallow. I had to stop eating food and just load up on water. I'm nervous for dinner. All the pain, the agony. The humiliation.

Who burns their esophagus?

Idiot.

3:51 PM

Okay, it is a little bit funny. A little bit. That still doesn't mean you can laugh at me journal, don't think that I can't hear you! I'd really threaten you, but what would I do? Rip out your pages? Not write in you anymore? Both things that I couldn't do because what on earth would I do with my time if I didn't write in you. And admit it, you're be completely bored and lonely without me. You know it, journal. You love me. You need me. You'd just be some wasted paper without me. I think you owe me pretty big there.

Just think about that.

3:57 PM

Wait. Why am I… Nevermind. I'm a lunatic with a burnt esophagus. I suppose it doesn't matter what the hell I write about.

9-9-03

7:46 PM

Okay, I need to find a book to read for a book report in English. We're making like, Book Box things for our report. We just take a cereal box and decorate it and write stuff on it… There's more important junk but I don't feel like describing it. But I need to find a book.

Anyway, tonight Sydney and I went to buy Caleb a birthday present. We got the game Chutes and Ladders, and, I admit, I picked it out partly so I could play it with him because I'm a loser and I love to play little kids games. But I can only take so much Candy Land before I have gumdrops coming out of my ears. It's time for something new.

By the way, I've settled on the name Carmen for Spanish class. It's fun. I guess. Pero no es Margarita. Ugh.

Well, I'm going to go find a book.

Oh, and by the way, just because you care about my welfare, journal, my esophagus is feeling much better. I think the massive amounts of cold water I drank helped a lot.

9-10-03

3:39 PM

Yes, today math was actually good. We got in groups of four and took measurements of height and arm span. Tomorrow we're making the graphs and crap, but today very minimal math was involved. And Mrs. Schlesinger made like the best groups. Whyyy? Because Ian was in it! It was me, Ian, Kathleen, and this girl named Yu Sun. She's so nice! I didn't know her last year, but I'm glad she's in my team this year. She moved here from China in like fifth or fourth grade or something, but she's so sweet. People call her Yuey though because Yu is too confusing. 'Hey, Yu!' can often be interpreted as 'Hey, you!' Not a good thing to shout in the hallways.

Mom and Dad had the funniest argument this morning. So, usually when I wake up, Dad's in the shower and Mom's either getting ready in their room or already downstairs eating breakfast. So this morning she was already downstairs when I went down there to eat. She was sitting at the table, and I wasn't really looking at her because I really wanted some Cheerios, and after a few minutes she finished eating and went to put her dishes in the dishwasher, and Dad walked into the kitchen.

He stopped suddenly and was like, "Are you serious?" This made me look up, and I noticed that Mom was, well…

"What?" she asked innocently.

"You can't wear sweatpants to work!"

She looked at him very defiantly. So defiantly that it scared even me. "Watch me."

"Okay, but–"

"My pants won't fit, damn it! What else do you expect me to do?"

At this point she was near threatening him with her grapefruit spoon, so I was surprised he was bold enough to say, "Get some maternity clothes, maybe."

I think she would have stabbed him with her utensil had I not taken a somewhat large detour to the dishwasher and walked in the middle of them. Then I took the spoon from her so she wouldn't hurt us. Not with any weapon, anyway. She was glaring at him though, which I thought was pretty funny, but then once I was a safe distance away I said, "You know, Mom, wearing sweatpants to work is kind of weird… There's nothing wrong with maternity clothes."

Then Dad and I proceeded to make a plan about shopping for them this weekend, probably after Caleb's party. Oh! That reminds me, the appointment is a week from today. I mean, the appointment. When I find out if Syd-n-Vaughn junior is a boy or a girl! Ah! I'm sooo excited. Anyway, while Dad and I made the plans Mom just stood there like 'What the hell just happened?' Haha, I can't wait.

Oh, so, apparently there's this thing we're having at school on Friday night called an Open House. I guess we take our parents to school and they see our classrooms and stuff, and meet the teachers or something. There's also an ice cream social, which is the main appeal for me because, well, I'm a big fan of ice cream.

Hmm, I can't wait for math tomorrow (I know, that's something I bet you'd never thought I'd say), but I get to spend more time with my group, meaning I get more time with Ian. I'm excited. I don't care what we do, as long as I'm with him again. Kathleen and Yuey are fun too but… Ian!

9-11-03

4:14 PM

Ugh! Math teachers are so frustrating! They make us buy calculators that cost nearly a hundred dollars and then they expect us to know how to use them! But I don't? And what is this 'line of best fit' crap? Math is so dumb.

Oh, Ian is a nice part of it.

But otherwise… Death to algebra. I have so much homework I think I'll explode. Good-bye, sweet non-mathematic world.

9-12-03

8:04 PM

Happy Friday. Friday. Ah. Such a good day. Because that means tomorrow is Saturday. Of course, Saturday for Aislin means chasing around a bunch of little kids at a birthday party, but it is a Saturday nonetheless. So after Mom and Dad got home we ate a quick dinner and headed back over to school.

There were a lot of people at school. They had tables set up in the foyer were they were serving ice cream, and they kind of ushered people in to get some and right back outside not to clog anything. We were waiting in line for ice cream when Fini came up to us. She was hyper as usual, wearing her athletic shorts and a t-shirt with the sleeves cut off. Dee's always like, "You're such a man, Fini." It's kind of funny, Fini hates all things girly. The color pink is like poison.

Anyway, Fini was looking at me, and then my parents, and back to me, and she said, "You don't look a thing like your parents."

"That's because I'm adopted."

Pause. "I knew that." Then she walked away. I had to laugh, she's so oblivious to things like that.

Then we got ice cream. Yummmmy. We walked around the school a little bit. Sydney complained about her pants being tight and (she was wearing one of Dad's shirts by the way) we reminded her about our shopping trip this weekend. She grumbled. We found Kathleen's family and talked to them.

Yeah, I guess it's boring. I had fun I suppose. After that they started making people go to the classrooms and stuff, so Mom and Dad met all my teachers, and they talked about the curriculum or something. I wasn't really paying attention, but talking to Kathleen. I did notice that a lot of parents were giving Mom and Dad weird looks, probably for being so young. I mean there's only a handful of parents who are pretty young, but they don't look as young as Mom and Dad. I think it's because they didn't like, raise me, if that makes any sense. Like I didn't give them gray hairs or anything through my troubling childhood, or there wasn't any single-parent type deal. But, oh, I don't know if I'm making any sense. Nevermind.

They look young, and people notice, particularly with Sydney's, well, stomach.

Oh, when we were in Mrs. Voss's room Mom, Dad, Mrs. Moorland, and Mrs. Voss all had a nice conversation on Spanish, but me, Kathleen, and Mr. Moorland had no idea what was going on. We all looked at ach other and shrugged. Then Mr. Moorland tried jumping in by saying, "Taco burrito guacamole!" It was pretty funny.

Ay, I'm pretty tired and it's not very late. It's been a long week I guess. And I need all the sleep I can get in preparation for tomorrow's escapades at the Lampi house. Oh. That could sound really hot. Me. Jeff Lampi. Escapades? Unfortunately, this relates to a three year old. Only my luck, only my luck.

A/n: I hope you enjoyed this! Sorry it took so long to update. Lucky for you Cross Country ends on Tuesday so I'll suddenly have a lot more time on my hands, and hopefully I'll get to write more. Please review!